Keep up with news and features of interest to the reptile and amphibian community on the kingsnake.com blog. We cover breaking stories from the mainstream and scientific media, user-submitted photos and videos, and feature articles and photos by Jeff Barringer, Richard Bartlett, and other herpetologists and herpetoculturists.

Friday, January 13 2017

The 2 subspecies of the black-knobbed map turtle, Graptemys nigrinoda, are often referred to as the southern (or Delta) black-knob, G. n. delticola, and the northern black-knob, G. n. nigrinoda. The 2 subspecies are very similar, with the southern form being darker and having a larger plastral figure than, its better known northern cousin.

There has long been controversy regarding the validity of the Delta map as a subspecies. Some contend that it is just a clinal/environmental variation of the black-knob. Because the 2 subspecies intergrade over a large part of the range, many authorities do not even attempt to define the Delta form. But since Peter Lindeman, “Dr. Map Turtle”, saw fit to recognize the southern form in his The Map Turtle and Sawback Atlas, it was high on Jake’s and my “wannasee” list. By the way, both of these subspecies are “sawbacked” forms.

At our next stop it was the lesser known, the southern subspecies, that we hoped to see.

By the time we reached our destination a few miles north of Mobile, AL the parking lot was filled, there were dozens of boats containing happy fishermen on the oxbow, and Delta map turtles (adult size, 3-8”, females the larger) were on every exposed snag. When Jake realized that the turtles were so used to the fishermen that in very un-map- turtle-like manner they continued basking unless closely approached, he shook his head in disbelief.

Thursday, January 12 2017

Jake and I had been talking about making a photographic foray for the various southeastern map turtles (Graptemys) for some time. One hot day in June 2016 we decided that the time had finally come. We had motored to Florida’s western panhandle in search of a bog frog (successful), and the first map turtle on Jake’s list, the Escambia map, was just a hop, skip, and jump further westward. So we found a motel and at sunrise the next morning we began our hopping, skipping, and jumping to the Escambia River drainage, where from a fishing dock, Jake got his lifer Escambia map turtle, G. ernsti, an adult female. The turtle was well above the waterline on a distant snag, but was immediately identifiable.

Although this broad-headed map turtle had been known to exist in the Escambia, Yellow, and Shoal rivers system for years, until 1992 it had been considered the easternmost population of the Alabama map turtle. Females attain a length of 7 to 10+ inches. Males are about half that size.

Wednesday, January 11 2017

Once rather commonly seen in the pet trade, this is no longer the case with the The Rio Bamba marsupial frog, Gastrotheca riobambae.

Wayyyyyy back, from the 1950s to about 2000, importing herps for the hobby occurred at an almost unbelievable volume. Herps came to the USA from southern and eastern Africa, from many South and Central American countries, from Southeast Asia, and even from the various European countries. Within the USA itself, interstate trade in both native and imported herps was rampant and largely unregulated. When compared to today herps were abundant, species available were far more varied, and the asking prices of herps were then very cheap. For example, the 3 species of anurans pictured were once commonly seen in the American pet trade. Think back now—when was the last time you saw any of these offered? Here yesterday, gone or almost gone today. And today will soon be the yesterday when we find in future years that many of the herp taxa that we now take for granted are no longer available.

Tuesday, January 10 2017

The dark outlined white shoulder marking is characteristic of the males of this taxon.

It was a female of this little (about 3” total length) lizard that I found first, and had she remained quiescent, I would have never seen her. Although the sun shown overhead, bathing the Amazonian canopy in heated brilliance, the rainforest trail that I trod was darkly shaded and relatively cool. The lizard, herself dark except for a single white tailtip band, was also on a dark, mouldering treetrunk. But for the nervously waving tail she. A collared gecko, Gonatodes concinnatus, was nearly invisible. But even in the gloom of the rainforest that seemingly disembodied patch of white waving to and fro caught my attention. I readied the camera but she darted to one side to never be seen by me. About 20 feet further on the trail and I happened across another female of this diurnal gecko wagging her strongly patterned tail. This time I got a picture.

But it was not until the next trip that I had an opportunity to see a male of this beautiful lizard. In fact, I got to see 2 males. The first was brought to me by a villager who had caught the lizard and secured it in a small plastic bag. I was delighted at having the opportunity to carefully observe the lizard. But I was even happier when later that day I was walking by the bird observation platform and I saw another male, this one perched quietly on a large bracket fungus. Camera…

Monday, January 9 2017

Although caudal patterns may vary, elsewhere the colors are pretty well standardized.

We rented a tiny boat, a motor, and a driver, on the docks of a small fishing village on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. Cost had been negotiated successfully, and within a few minutes we were on our way westward on the choppy waters of the bay. Our target species on this watery interlude was the yellow-bellied sea snake, Pelamis platurus, which species was quite common in the region, but that was most commonly seen by fishermen in the ocean slicks, patches of smooth-surfaced water that drifted between the choppy surfaces and when the snake became stranded on the beach.

Although Pelamis grows to nearly 4’ in length, those that we saw ranged from 24 to about 32 inches. On that trip we saw more than 2 dozen of these pelagic serpents. And indeed they are pelagic, ranging from the Asiatic shores of the Indian and Pacific oceans, Africa, and in the New World from Central America to California (rare in the USA). It has also been found far asea. Although this has often been said to be the most widely distributed of the world’s snakes, I’m wondering if the tiny flowerpot (blind) snake is not now a close runner-up?

Friday, January 6 2017

When I first saw a Phelsuma klemmeri at Glades Herp I exclaimed to Rob “that thing is brighter than a neon tetra!” And “neon day gecko” was the name that caught on for this yellow headed, blue and green, flattened, 3 ½ inch long mini-beauty.

Despite their small size I have found this small gecko to be easily kept and bred. Although a pair can easily thrive in a 12” cubed reptile cage, mine are in 24 x24x12” terraria. In a well-planted terrarium this size I am able to keep 2.4 of the geckos without fear of serious aggression. Since Epipremnum aureus is a hardy and pretty aroid that provides both humidity and substantial cover for the lizards, this is the planting I most often use. Lengths of bamboo (both vertical and diagonal (*see additional caging comments below)), heat and light are provided on both ends of the tank, thereby allowing the lizards ample room to stay well separated.

There is little question that the males of neon day geckos are territorial, but fewer keepers realize that to a lesser degree the females are also. Little serious physical harm comes from adverse interactions but the stress of persecution may eventually take its toll on the subordinate inhabitants. In a large communal situation, by providing well separated areas of equally ideal habitat, adverse effects from territoriality can be almost eliminated. In a smaller enclosure only a single pair should be kept.

Caging-Feeding suggestions

· Full spectrum lighting and a tight fitting screen top is necessary for this diurnal taxon
· 1/8” crickets, dusted with D3 + calcium as well as a prepared phelsuma diet should be provided
· Ascertain aggression does not occur. Do not crowd.
· Gently mist the terrarium daily. DO NOT overwet.
· 76-80F nights, 84-88F days.
· Vertical or diagonal dry bamboo sections between 1 and 3 inch diameter and as tall as the tank, preferably with natural longitudinal cracks through which the geckos may easily move, should be provided. Gravid female may need a marginally wider than normal opening. Careful use of a circular saw can provide access openings if natural cracks are not present.
· Sit back, relax, and enjoy these wonderful lizards!